BY TONY FURSE | April 12, 2023

In addition to debate leading to denial of a zoning change, a report located elsewhere in this edition, La Cygne’s governing council voted to rescind a March 1 action that would have sent to its city Planning and Zoning Commission an application for city-owned property at 602 N. 5th St. to be divided into three plats.

The rescission at the regular council meeting last Wednesday, April 5, passed on a 3-2 vote, with David Brenneman and Danny Curtis dissenting.

Brenneman noted that, after its approval, follow-up discussion at the March 15 regular meeting had indicated marketing options that could avoid plat development on the inherited residential plot as presented then by Dan Nasalroad, public works superintendent, and Jodi Wade, city clerk. The two department heads were appointed as an ad hoc committee at the March 1 meeting to study survey options.

Brenneman contended that the March 15 discussion had occurred despite the three-plat action having still been in effect. 

Following what was at times contentious debate between councilmen, Jerome Mitzner said that city leaders “need to follow our managers. We tasked them and need to follow them.”

Councilman Keith Stoker reported on negative comments he has received on another March 1 action, one that discontinued rental of the city’s Community Building.

Conjectured Stoker from his patron conversations, “Why not pursue building a community center down at the park?”

Thomas Capp, along with Stoker, the two members of the council’s park committee, said a potential site for such a structure could be “just south of the swimming pool. It has parking around it.”

Wade suggested involving the city’s Public Building Commission with the idea and also reminded leaders of a current 1-cent city sales tax for pool/park new facilities that is scheduled to sunset in 2027 with final payment of a swimming pool bond. 

She said 1-cent city sales taxes (another is for special highway) generate between $190,000 and $206,000 annually.

Concerning special projects, Mayor Debra Wilson read that bid opening for the proposed new fire station was on Tuesday, with the council scheduled to consider an award at its 7 p.m. regular meeting next Wednesday, April 19.

Wade reported that five contractors attended the March 23 pre-bid meeting, with one question of waiving the building permit fee that the council then approved last week on a unanimous vote.

Said Mitzner, who motioned for the approximately $50,000 fee waiver, “If they have to pay it, it’ll be mostly from grant money. If not, we pay.”

Added Capp, “It would be another number to drive up the cost.”

About the sewer system rehabilitation project, Wade said a walkthrough to determine its substantial completion was conducted last Thursday. Items still to be completed will include asphalt patching, grading and seeding, and a final closed caption television scope. Curtis said one item to be addressed is a culvert drainage box near the library that was refilled completely with concrete following a street cut.

In a related unanimous action, the council approved pay application No. 10 of $192,214.62 to Nowak Construction Co., Inc., Goddard, general contractor for the sewer project, for a four-week pay period ending March 20.

Other unanimous actions were the passing of Ordinance No. 1507 concerning conditional use permit amendments, Ordinance No. 1508 amending purposes and duties of council committees which City Attorney Burton Harding said “takes out micromanaging of city employees by council committees,” and Resolution No. 453 amending city employee attendance and leave policies and guidelines.

In other business before the council:

--Wilson reminded attendees of both the “Build Your City” open house from 4-7 p.m. this Wednesday, April 12, at the La Cygne Library’s Swan Room and the Dog Days veterinary clinic from 10 a.m.-noon Saturday at the La Cygne Community Park.